Vassula wrote an article on the associations a few years ago and that article is online here:
/en/spirituality/prayergroups/assoc/.
Everybody can benefit by reading this article again written by Vassula.
One of the most impressive aspects of True Life in God for me is what Vassula calls doing things “Jesus style.” This has always delighted me to no end.
When I was younger I had the opportunity to observe several different forms of organizations. In particular I was able to observe and participate for several years in organizations that did work with the mentally and physically handicapped. One of these organizations was completely voluntary and another one was run by people with salaries and offices. I was able to get a look at the budgets of both organizations and realized in non-profit organizations employee salaries and offices can comprise even 90% of expenses. I also realized if you get rid of offices and salaried employees over 90% of all money can go towards the actual people you are trying to help or the project you are trying to accomplish.
Vassula has always operated without an office, a formal secretary nor paid staff. And despite this, the message has been able to move non-stop around the world. The reason for this is the hard work of the associations and single individuals who volunteer for TLIG without receiving any money or salary and sometimes not even recognition. They work quietly behind the scenes – in service to God. This is a unique and precious “Jewel” we have in TLIG – the messages and the ability to be able to come and work in this lush vineyard of spirituality.
Some people think Vassula has followers. This is just another form of lie and attack. I was joking with a person recently the only thing I follow is Vassula’s dog, on occasion when I take it for a walk on a leash. So I walk behind and “follow the dog.” All of us including Vassula are working for God, the church and our fellow human beings. Vassula can be seen as an older sister in Christ, a friend and yes quite rightly as a modern day witness for God. The best attitude is always, that more than anybody else Vassula wants to help the apostolate – not for herself – but again for God, the church and others. Her voice, that at times suggests and guides is worthy of giving extra weight and consideration to.
Authority is another aspect of Vassula’s role in the work of TLIG. Jesus told Vassula in the messages she can call on him any time. People think mistakenly sometimes, when Vassula uses her authority that it is her personal discernment alone or her opinion about something. This is not always the case. On important issues Vassula is following the lead of Jesus himself. If you take a long look at all of Vassula’s instructions and letters over the years – many of which are on the TLIG website, you will see again and again that the guidelines of the major work areas of the apostolate have been all spelled out. The big stuff and the directions on how to do it are all there. From the prayer group guidelines booklet, to how to evangelize and spread the messages, to guidelines on Beth Myriam. Vassula has done her job and laid out all of the major areas of the TLIG apostolate with years and years of work. Now if something does not work well…who do we blame? We have to in every case blame ourselves!!! Really look at all the letters, the personal interventions, the pilgrimages, the meetings, the thousands of emails. Vassula has been involved with us all these years. Now it is really up to us…and yes, she may even still be willing and able to help us!!!
In True Life in God we are taught one of the most important aspects of Unity is humility and as a rule Christians should treat “the other” as better than themselves. It makes good common sense that we should at least have the humility to practice this with Vassula herself for without her cooperation with the Lord and willingness to be His “Pupil” we would not have the TLIG messages. We can never separate the message from the messenger. And why would we want to? In Vassula we have an example of a person like us…a nobody, and can see how the Lord works with her and we can learn!
Many years ago a magazine article was written to attack Vassula that claimed she had a private driver and fancy cars and so forth. In today’s media age – basically anybody can write any lies and people believe it. If it is in a newspaper or on the internet people have no discernment for lies and truth. They often take things as “gospel” which are nothing more than attacks based on pure lies. A lie is even more effective when it is delivered with total seriousness and given an air of authority or if you can by using deception get a name or title to endorse the lie.
Let us again set the record straight for new readers of our newsletter: Vassula takes no money from True life in God and never has. Only travel expenses are covered. Countries that struggle to pay these expenses have been helped out of an account of book sale royalties. Never have any book sale royalties gone to Vassula for personal use.
The True Life in God apostolate has no headquarters, no main office – but rather contact points of volunteers, thus enabling this unique “jesus style” approach.
Christmas 2005 and more recently February 2006 I had an opportunity to speak again with Vassula about the Associations: What exactly are they? The TLIG associations are created by people in the TLIG prayer groups to deal with legal and tax matters associated with book sales and fundraising for Beth Myriam. Sometimes also with collecting money for supporting evangelization activities. In order to sell something or to collect donations for Beth Myriam you have to deal with legal and tax issues. This is one of the reasons in some countries there are legal entities set up to deal with legal and tax issues. In order to set up a legal non profit organization – often times a Board of Directors and a President and Vice President needs to be chosen. These titles are for administering legal and tax issues and that is the only scope of their formal activity. If they are hard working people and want to do more, often times they indeed do. But the title they have gives them no authority over other people and is simply a title connected with legal and tax matters pertaining to the country they are in.
The danger of course for all of us is the temptation to usurp authority where there is no authority. And this is a very tricky business!!! Making a structure of authority does not resolve the problem! Ask any clergy about the political problems they encounter within their structures where clear lines of authority are in place!
Here are a couple of thoughts about this. Some people say: “Vassula needs to decide this” or “I will only do this if Vassula tells me.” Or even worse – “If you do not do it the way I have said it must be done – I will withdraw from working with you.”
Vassula does her work…which is transmitting the message and has told volunteers in TLIG: “work as if I am no longer here.” In other words Jesus does not want her in the day to day administration of TLIG. The work areas of the apostolate are our chance to share in this work which comes from the Lord. What joy for everyone to be able to work for God’s kingdom on earth!!! In fact this is not optional – all Christians inside or outside of this apostolate are called in scripture to work for the Lord.
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” James 1:22
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Cor 15:58
Now if there are disagreements about how to move forward on something people want to consult Vassula, sometimes this may be the right thing to do. But if the consultation comes from looking for adjudication to settle a conflict or a disagreement – this perhaps is our own failing. If there is conflict anywhere in our associations we have to see a red flag.
The Banner of TLIG is unity, with strong emphasis on humility and love.
Now if an association is not working together well in humility and love and self effacement putting the Lord’s interests before personal agendas…this is a failing of all the people involved. How can we evangelize anybody if we ourselves are not an example of unity? It takes real sincere effort to live a True Life in God. It is hard – it is not the broad easy way…for it means we have to die to ourselves and our personal interests and live more out of selflessness, in other words: crucify our flesh.
Jesus warns us of the danger of disunity in our associations:
I, the Lord Jesus Christ, love you boundlessly, I am soon to come, I bless you all |
In another message Jesus says:
I promise that anyone who decides to do good, giving Me honour and will make peace with Me and neighbour, he will obtain peace and will come to realize that in their weakness and in their sleep they were led astray 
I want no more trouble from anybody; nor should anyone delude himself into thinking he is righteous, I repeat My warning, do not delude yourselves into thinking you are righteous; when one works or had decided to work for Me they should follow Me in My Foot-prints bearing My Cross wholeheartedly and with honour and joy; when this is done with goodwill they will be properly rewarded for all the work that had been done well in My Name;
no one is anyone’s master3 I am the only Master; I urge them to repent and turn to Me and prove to Me their goodwill;
consult Me anytime Vassula, and I shall answer you; I bless you, cling to Hope;
courage daughter; ic
January 20, 1999 (This whole message deals with quarrels in associations)
(3 In other words Jesus means that there should be no one in a group who works for God become a dictator, ordering others around and ‘filtering’ everything)
A classic example I always like to use is the one of Brother Lawrence who wrote the book: The Practice of the Presence of God (you can read it online.
Jesus says again and again he brings nothing new in TLIG and our “we, us” is the modern form of this same idea – the unceasing prayer – for us it was given in a simpler form, but the idea of living and working in prayer is as old as the Gospel itself.
I refer to this as Brother Lawrence was one day asked to buy the wine for his monastery and he knew nothing about buying wine. He was afraid he would buy bad wine and make his brothers angry with him. But in his we/us practice he gave the task over to God and ended up getting the best wine his brothers in the monastery had ever tasted! This example from classic Christian literature serves to remind us – it is not always the best ideas that make things work out well. But sometimes God will make something work through a person – whose idea was not so good but it worked anyway!!! Because God was with the person or the group.
Another way to see this is in the example of Vassula herself:
Vassula, you would have never been able to glorify Me unless I was joined to you; you would never be able, either, to accomplish this work that surpasses your ability were I not joined to you; yes, what ability has man, unless it is given to them from above? January 6, 2003
So the same can be said of all of us…what can we do without God? No matter our training and our titles? One of the best defenses of TLIG to the Greek Orthodox comparing the sayings of Jesus with the Desert Fathers was accomplished not by a theologian but by a musician!!! His distinction was he was the guitar player in a rock band for 10 years! This is also Jesus style! A non religious housewife is chosen to unite the church, a base player is inspired to write theological apologetics and a janitor who did not even know how to book an airline flight coordinates an international 40 nation, 7 languages pilgrimage. This is TLIG!
This does not mean that Jesus cannot use skills and talents we have – but he can also work with people with no skill or talent – He is God! He can do anything he likes! Sometimes fruit can come not after a battle of ideas and wills – but out of purity of heart and love itself. Working together in humility and love attracts the graces of the Holy Spirit. Selfishness, egotism, dissentions, conflicts and disputes drive away the Holy Spirit. Whereas if some one was to observe any group of volunteers in TLIG no matter who they are – our ideal would be for them to say:
“What patience they have for each other.”
“What a good spirit these people work in.”
“What a nice atmosphere and feeling of joy was with these people.”
In volunteer organizations often times the strong personalities rise to the top. This may be good – may not be good. Natural leaders arise in all small groups. The problem is, having leadership that follows the example of Jesus. This is foot washing! Higher serves the lower. If you want to lead something in TLIG the opportunity is there! In fact there is much more work than workers. And there are unlimited leadership opportunities available. But it means you have to do more work and sometimes sacrifice more. It may mean sacrificing a pet project. Sacrificing your personal ideas about something. We strive to never work for rewards or benefits – we work for love and with love. All of us fall short, all of us make mistakes for all of us are imperfect! If you want to lead in TLIG it means you want to serve and give more. It does not mean you have to Lord it over others or can be a little dictator or Napoleon. This is hard. It means we all have to sort things out together and strive to be of one mind – in fact a lot like the early church. But we have clergy to help. We have the messages, and we have the fruit of much effort by Vassula in assisting to clarify all aspects of the work of this apostolate for years and years and years.
You want to be a leader? Make a witness meeting. You want to serve? Volunteer for a Beth Myriam. You want to work for unity? Join a prayer group and organize new ones. You want to evangelize the messages – make a book sale table (see Athens Prayer group example here).
We do not have a charismatic leader at the helm of TLIG in the traditional sense. Vassula is a doer. More than anything she leads by example. If there are disagreements within a working group…all can feel ashamed, all have fallen short. Vassula is not some school teacher who is going to endlessly run after us like small children and ask us to not fight and to put away our toys! We are all accountable to Christ, each other, the church and the mission.
Now what happens when a strong personality dominates activities and they want to lead things in a certain direction and are strong willed about it? Worse – what if this natural leader has a Jezebel spirit? So you have a situation of a bunch of Ahabs with a Jezebel driving them…then what do we do? This is why we have an exorcist like Father Abberton who can discern what is going on and where a more serious problem may lie. We also by God’s grace still have Vassula.
All the volunteers and working groups need to help each other and call on each other for help. Working together in humility and love has no complete rule book.
What if I am trying to be humble – and I am being humble with a Jezebel inspired leader in our work group? That’s why I said earlier – this is tricky business! What if someone is very strong in personality and has good ideas and is assaulted verbally that they are a Jezebel and they have no Jezebel…just a slightly “rough around the edges personality?” So then what do we do? These situations are the exceptions not the rule. A good method Vassula suggests is to share your concerns with other people in your association or friends or co-volunteers in TLIG and see if other people agree with your perceptions. Do not force the issue, be gentle, be kind and with maturity, humility and discernment. We are all trying to grow and become mature Christians.
For we can go overboard and anybody who shows leadership we can claim is a Jezebel. In the end we have to have some faith in God and each other and hold true to our basic ideal of working in humility and Love. In time through helping each other and with God’s grace these things are eventually dealt with. We must not fall to the temptation of calling everybody a Jezebel just because they do not agree with our ideas!!! What a bunch we are! Thank God his patience with us is of divine proportions! The focus of all work in TLIG is TEAM WORK. That is our protection along with prayer. If the majority of a volunteer group over a extended period of time has a different idea than a strong self appointed leader and his or her resistance is causing problems – then this leader has to ask himself – is my idea (which of course she or he is sure is the right one) more important than unity and good spirit between the people in the work group? Perhaps the leader is called to sacrifice his idea which may even be better…who knows, sacrifice it on the alter of dying to oneself and unity.
Working in TLIG does not mean you sacrifice your daily responsibilities to your job and family and then brag to everyone what a martyr you are. No! But it does mean at least sacrificing some of your time. No one is working for God if they neglect their health, their family or work responsibilities and claim they do it for TLIG. Healthy balance and moderation – is something all of us must struggle with. We are all called to serve God after our conversion – be it in an apostolate like TLIG or in our church or to the poor. But this service must never be an ego trip – a demonstration to others so they see how “holy” we are or how much “blood we pour out.” This is self delusion and only a cover for pride.
Jesus asks Vassula: can you work with love, for love?
Vassula responds: I will try Lord. (March 3, 1987)
Are we capable of making the same answer as Vassula? Or do we demand…“Well, yes Lord as long as my ideas are respected and my conditions met.” Or, “Yes Lord I can, if I am in charge and get to be the boss.” Or, “Yes Lord I will – if you give me a big fancy title.”
In TLIG we have no titles. We cooperate and work together in a spirit of love and humility in the different areas of the TLIG apostolate. These areas include:
Evangelization: presenting and promoting the messages of TLIG in order to strengthen people spiritually with the aim of building the church.
Beth Myriam: projects to help the poor around the world.
Unity: anything we do for unity, the primary mission of TLIG pleases Jesus a lot. This includes participating in the TLIG pilgrimages where unity is practiced and praying for unity in the ecumenical prayer groups of TLIG.
Does this mean the group of people within one of these legal structures cannot do anything but administer tax and legal issues?
No it does not mean that, absolutely not. But the correct attitude of these structures is not that they are in charge of TLIG activities but rather how can they help. A Jesus style organization can never be made on paper or by decree. Jesus gives us our freedom. The TLIG associations are FREE associations of people gathered in prayer, humility, love and cooperation. And out of the degree to which these individuals practice the beautiful spirituality of True Life in God, they will continue to blossom and flourish around the world serving God and the church.
Satan is observing all of you and has sworn to stop My Plan by obstructing it and by using strong opposition; his threats are reaching heaven daily; without delay, work hard and willingly; for My sake work with My Spirit and not with yours; – should anyone work for his self-interests and without love, joy and self-giving, I shall intervene again… March 2, 1995
A Prayer…
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make my soul work for Your intentions |  |
Jonathan
